Small Business Economics

, Volume 27, Issue 1, pp 41–58 | Cite as

Entrepreneurship in the Region: Breeding Ground for Nascent Entrepreneurs?

Article
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Abstract

This paper employs data from the German Socioeconomic Panel (SOEP) and data from the German Social Insurance Statistics to study nascent entrepreneurship. In particular, micro data from the SOEP characterizing employees and nascent entrepreneurs is combined with data characterizing the entrepreneurial environment. The principal findings suggest that individuals are embedded in their local entrepreneurial environment which influences an individual especially at the beginning of the decision process about whether to become self-employed. Work and previous self-employment experience is more important than formal education for the likelihood of being a nascent entrepreneur. Furthermore, social capital is an important stimulus for nascent entrepreneurs. Finally, the results indicate that financial assets are less important for nascent entrepreneurs.

Key words

entrepreneurship SOEP self-employment young and small firms 

JEL Classification

J23 M13 R12 
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Copyright information

© Springer 2006

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Max Planck Institute of Economics, Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public PolicyJenaGermany

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